The Struggles:

"That is the way I run, with a clear goal in mind.
That is the way I fight, not like someone shadow boxing."
1st Corinthians 1:26 NIV

Monday 08 Sept 2014:

This morning I got up at 0600;

I made me a strawberry and banana breakfast smoothie.

I then took my son Ken to school.

At 10:30 my wife Jill and I left to go to the hospital.

She got ready to have her knee replacement surgery.

I stayed there and chatted with her in the hospital room for a bit.

At noon the pastor, Pastor Flo, from the church showed up.

She went and visited Jill before surgery.

I sat in the waiting room after that until after 2PM.

I then went to go pick up my son Ken from school.

Then we drove across the Davenport Bridge to find my friends house,

my friend Joe still has to give me back my papers.

I am writing a letter to Cheri Bustos for my Social Security Disability Claim.

I have been fighting for it for nearly six years.

I was injured while in the service and have stenosis to the spine, nerve damage,   tendonitis to my right shoulder, and other damage acquired.

We never found my friend, and I am desperate to get my papers back.

At 5PM we went to the hospital to visit my wife and sons mom, Jill. 

She was not out of surgery yet.

At 6:30PM my wife was finally out of surgery and we got to see her.

At 8PM my son Ken and I had dinner at Rudy’s Tacos.

Then we went home and watched American Ninja Warrior off the DVR.

Tuesday 09 Sept 2014:

Today I got up at 0600 again.

I made another breakfast smoothie and took my vitamins.

I took my son Ken to school.

Then I took my wife some study items at the hospital.

I stayed for a bit.

Then I went home and started to field day the house.

I spent most of the day cleaning.

At 3PM I picked up Ken from the school.

Then we went to go visit his mom.

For dinner I made him spaghetti and marinara sauce.

I then cleaned up the kitchen.

Then my son and I watched YouTube videos and Netflix.

Wednesday 10 Sept 2014:

What a heck of a day.
Too long for a Hump Day Wednesday.
I got up at 0730
(fell asleep at 0200, so more sleep than last night)
I made my breakfast smoothie and took my vitamins,
then I reorganized the master bedroom,
but did not get it done before I had to pick up Ken or my wife Jill,
At 1100 I left and picked up Ken from school,
came home and went back to organizing,
then at 1430 (2:30PM) left to pick up Jill from the hospital,
she did not get to check out until 4PM,
a shout out to Kara Ade for getting a walker for my wife Jill,
after checking out and Ken bringing most of the gear down to the van,
we gave Jill's mom Jackie a ride to her car,
then went and got the prescription at HyVee,
then came home and ordered Pizza Hut,
but the driver went past our house and turned around in the cul de sak,
I was pissed and Ken and I went to Pizza Hut and complained,
they deliver to our house all the time,
so how can they say that they cannot find it?
We ended up getting our pizza for free!
At 1930 (7:30PM) we ate pizza finally.
Then at 8PM we watched the presidents address about ISIS

and then America's Got Talent.
Now it is time to sleep for a change...

Prayer today on this Wednesday of Pain:

Almighty Father, Thank you for your love, grace and mercy.
I pray that my discomforts will turn to comforts, my pains to gains,
my deprivation to more blessings, my losses to profits,
my tears to smiles, my sorrows to pleasures, my illness to wellness,
my debts to credits and my dreams to realities.

As the scripture says:
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
And he "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3

Jesus by your power, relieve the sharpness of my pain and tiredness,
my tingling and shaking, the ringing in my ear and equilibrium imbalance,
and help me through my turmoil; but above all, Jesus,
heal the wounds of my soul.
And even though I find it hard to pray, yet shall I ever say:
Thy will be done. Amen.

Lord send the healing hands of Jesus down
and heal my ear ache and imbalance
as I wait for the VA to get an appointment; give me the strength.
Amen!

23 Years of Marriage!

23 years of marriage:

Married at the Stanwood Apple Orchard in Stanwood Washington

on August 3^rd 1991. 

It was a simple country wedding;

Yet beautiful.

I was an insulator then and a BM2 (Boatswainsmate Second Class)

in the Naval Reserves working for CHB5 (Cargo Handling Battalion 5).

In 1992 I became a cook and went to duty as a cook for a boarding team on the

USS Underwood FFG-36 and did boarding ops as well,

during the Counter Drug Operations in the Caribbean.

In the mean-time my wife, Jill, was moving all of our household goods to

Charleston South Carolina.

In 1993 I was assigned as a pantry cook on the

USS Richmond K. Turner CG-20

where I did a Mediterranean deployment.

My first son Timmy was born during this deployment.

It was one of my biggest joys to see him for the first time after the deployment.

In 1994 I was in operations in Bosnia;

Called Operation Provide Promise

And Operation Deny Flight.

I missed my son Timmy’s first birthday

And we celebrated it after I returned.

In 1995 I was assigned to LEAP (Light Exeo Atmospheric Projectile) test 3.

This was in San Juan Puerto Rico.

In 1996 I was promoted to Second Class Cook

And assigned as a Stateroom Supervisor on the

USS John C. Stennis CVN-74. 

In 1997 I was away from my family again on a Shakedown Cruise.

My wife was stuck at home taking care of the kids,

taking care of the finances,

And preparing for each move from ship to ship…
I know this was hard for her to do and my hats off to her. 

In 1998 I was assigned to the Auxiliary Security Force

in Newport Rhode Island. 

Finally some shore duty and family time.

My second son Kenneth was born that same year.
I was actually present at his birth.
This was a precious moment for me. 

Two years of well deserved shore duty.

In 2001 I was assigned as a Speed Line Supervisor on

the dreaded USS Belleauwood LHA-3.

In 2002 I was assigned as a Master at Arms for a roving patrol

during West Pac 2002.

That same year I helped build an orphanage in Africa,

during Humanitarian Ops.

In 2003 I injured my shoulder when a cabinet fell

during the dry dock maintenance period.

In 2004 I was promoted to Master at Arms first Class.

I worked as a Cell Block Supervisor in the Brig.

And I worked as an Acting Lieutenant during

Prison Escort and Detainee Ops in Kuwait and Iraq

and worked as a Security Officer during West Pac 2004.  

In 2005 I went to rehab at Great Lakes

and worked doing administration duties.

That same year we, my family and I, bought a house in Moline Illinois.

My dad, mom, Uncle Gary, brother in Law Kent, and Sister Tammy

All helped us move in.

In 2006 I temporarily worked as the Lieutenant

with the Naval Sea Cadet Core.

 

In 2007 I was at home awaiting retirement orders.

and happy to be settled down with my family finally.

In 2008 I went to work to make ends meet at Per Mar Security.

I only worked a few months and went back to college instead.

The GI Bill and the Illinois Veterans Grant was a big help in making ends meet.

In 2008 I received my AA Business Administration Degree from the

American Intercontinental University.

In 2009 I applied for disability for my knee, neck, right shoulder, tingling, shaking,

and equilibrium imbalance I have from injuries I have acquired over my Naval Career.

From 2008-2012 I taught private karate classes in my in house dojo;

The Kerofsky Family Dojo.  

In 2012 I earned my BA in Arts from Western Illinois University.

In 2013 I became an Official Sea Cadet Lieutenant

and worked as a Training Officer at Great Lakes Illinois.

In 2013 I earned my Masters in Arts from Regina University.

It is 2014 now and my wife and I are on our 23^rd year of marriage,

There was sure a lot of moving, transferring,

lot of time away from my family on deployments,

lot of hardships, but lots of fun times as well.

Fun times most remembered with my kids were at Disneyland

and Knott’s Berry Farm in California.

Going on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and

going on the Viper Roller Coaster.

This year my son Tim moved out of the house

To pursue college life with his girlfriend Rachel,
My wife got a medical coding certificate
and is now pursuing her degree. 

I retired from the Sea Cadet Core,

I honorary received a 7^th Dan rank promotion from Master Stevens

due to my community involvement in helping children,

I went on a trip to Cartagena Colombia to visit my sponsored child Jackleth

through the Children International and the Fundación Amigos de los Niño’s,

We got our roof repaired on our home, my dad, uncle and brother in law

fixed the kitchen ceiling which still needs plastered.

We are having some ups and downs this year, but will get through it.

Over the past few years since I have been retired from the Navy;

I have been trying to make up lost time with my wife and kids.

Especially my youngest son, Kenneth, who has taken things hard.

What a life together so far.

What will the next 23 years bring?

My uplifing experience at the Templo!

Today my family and I went to the water park at White Water Junction in Rock Island.
While there I met this tattooed christian man named Marcus: He prayed for me.
He invited me to a Christian concert at his church called the
Templo Elim Spanish Assembly of God.
The concert was from 5PM to 8PM. And half of it was in Spanish.
It was loud in the church with the music echoing throughout 
and I did get a head rush a couple of times.
My friend, whom I just met at the church, got me a drink of water. 
I had to calm my head for a bit. So I sat in the back room. 
Then we went out into the church. He did a Christian Rap.
My friend, Marcus, whom I met at the water park read a poem. 
And another guy did a rhyme. 
The pastor was a 25 year old man named Joe from Chicago. 
He asked what our pet peeves are; I shouted "people who do not use their turn signals".  
He agreed with the pet peeves and said, "give up your worries to god."
His testimony was uplifting. He talked about his father and how he was mistreated. 
And how at the age of 18 he spoke at a church and his father was in the back of the church;
he looked and saw him and forgave him then. 

The bible scripture was from Mark chapter 2:

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man 

 

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, 
the people heard that he had come home.  

² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, 

not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.  

³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  

⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, 

they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it 

and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.  

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! 
Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, 
and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?  
⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ 
or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?  
¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” 
So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  
¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. 
This amazed everyone and they praised God, 
saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

 During the last part of the sermon people in the front stood with letter 
and it all spelled out the sentence; 
"I have issues." 

He talked about the root cause of sin; which is really us. 

Then he took the "I"s away and rearranged the people in front;
the sentence now read:
"JESUS SAVES!"
  
What made this service uplifting to me was toward the end we all went up to the front;
where everyone prayed for us. We prayed in a line. 
I do not know what God Yahweh has planned in my life,
but I do know there is something left for me. 

Rather it be working with more children, teaching karate again, mentoring, 
or whatever he has planned;
I will do! 

Cartagena Colombia!

My adventure in Cartegena!
What a heck of a journey it was; that is for certain.

But if I had to give up everything I own to help a child in need,
I would do it all over again.  

It makes my heart flutter to help a child in need!!!

My Cartegena Adventure started on Saturday 12 June 2014:

I left my home at 5PM got a ride up to the train station in Galesburg Illinois. 
At 7PM I was on the train toward Chicago Illinois. 
The train ride was good at first until around 9:20PM - 
two stops away from Chicago Union Station;
when we got delayed because during the storm two cars crashed on the track. 
We were delayed for an hour and a half; while they cleared the track of the vehicles. 
At just before midnight I finally arrived at my destination at the Union Station.

I then walked to the subway station were I took an hour subway train ride to the 
Chicago O'hare International Airport. 
I arrived at the airport at just before 2AM on Sunday 13 July 2014.  

At the Airport I walked all the way to my gate, got my ticket out of the ticket machine 
(you enter your code number on a ticket printout to get your actual ticket now, 
how times have changed),
and then waited to go to the TSA scrutiny and board my flight. 

Sunday 13 July 2014: 

At 0515AM I left on the on time flight 409 on SPIRIT Airlines to Fort Lauderdale Florida.  
On the airplane was a nice lady from Guatemala who I spoke Spanish to on the whole flight. 
She took a photo of me...

and I of her.

At 0915AM I arrived in Fort Lauderdale Florida. I hightailed it
with my yellow backpack on my back and my walking stick in hand
to the other side of the airport to barely make it to the boarding of my next flight out.

On time at 1048AM  I departed on flight 859 to Cartagena Colombia.

I took a selfie on that flight!

At 1245PM I arrived in the heart of the Indies in the Caribbean Sea - Cartagena Colombia.
I was stopped by the policia who walked me right through customs within 10 minutes,
then I exchanged 50 USD to 100000 Pesos; but dropped a $100 bill, which I did not recover.
I only brought 250 USD with me, which did not turn out to be much at the
Bocagrande District.
This is the new highrise district, and it is costly American prices.

Anyway I was treated like royalty upon arriving until my departure.
The people were not like I expected, because of the bad stereotypes about them.
How many people stereotype Colombians as drug or coffee dealers,
with high powered weapons,
whom are dangerous, even the state department warns of the danger of the drug cartel.
In reality the stereotypes are wrong.
And even the warnings are wrong about travel to Cartagena.
Colombians are really respectful people, with lots of character, many whom work hard
just to make ends meet, many like futbul (the national sport),
and there are lots of old American sitcoms like 2 and 1/2 men on TV.
Though the Bocagrande is rich, the rest of the districts are very poor.

I departed the airport in a taxi and went straight to my hotel, the hotel Caribe.

I checked in and crashed in my room. I slept from 0130PM until 0530PM.

I got up and took a shower, shaved, changed out and went to get something to eat.
On the SPIRIT airlines you have to pay for food, you even have to pay for $3 for a water.
I did not want to do that, so I did not eat for nearly 26 hours.
I did have water, however, to take my pills and they even made me pay for that.

I went to a restaurant called, "La Fonda"

and I had a "Benjada paisa" for dinner.

The dinner consisted of one fried egg, a whole fried plankton, red beans, rice, a pork rind,
a avocado slice, a link of chorizo sausage, pulled pork, and four corn cake balls.
I had mine with a Agula beer.
The dinner cost me 42,000 pesos or 21 USD.

After the dinner I was going to go back to my room,
but went and got a massage to regain focus.
The girls name was Veronica.
Then I went back to the hotel and took a few pics,
then went for a nightly swim in the pool. And then went to sleep at 11PM.

Monday 14 July 2014:

Today I did everything on my itinerary for today, Wednesday and Thursday.
So, I will wring it on Wednesday and Thursday.
I woke up when the sun rose. Went for a morning swim.
Ate a continental breakfast from the breakfast bar.
Then showered and shaved and went to old town plaza.

At 11AM I paid $2.50 USD (5000 pesos) and explored the Museo de Arte Moderno.

I then went explore the square and all the art sculptures in the square.

I then took the bus to see the old walled city and the rest of the historic district.
While there I bought some souvenirs;
a T-shirt that said Cartagena for mi hijo Ken,
a bracelet for mi madre Sharon and esposa Jill,
and a hat for me. 

Cartagena is sure a beautiful country!
At 6PM I returned to my hotel.
After the sun went down I did the "Plum Blossom" form on the deck.
I then went upstairs and watched 2 and a half men on TV.
At midnight I fell asleep.

Tuesday 15 July 2014:

Today was the highlight of my entire time in Cartagena!
I was so overwhelmed with joy to finally see my child I have been sponsoring for six years.
I got up at 0800AM, grabbed a juice from the juice bar, took my vitamins and pills,
took a shower and freshened up; put my hair back in a ponytail
(which I do to honor Master Zenkoshi).
I then got dressed in my blue jeans and pink stripped shirt
(pink is my sponsored child's favorite color).
At 0900AM I was down in the lobby waiting for my guide for the...
Funducion Amigos de los Ninos.
At 0940 she finally showed up. The traffic here in Cartagena is loco!

First we went to Jackieth's home. She is an only child.
It is just her and her mother living in a 24 feet square concrete shack.
It makes me sad to see that and realize all of the poverty here;
while there is a big highrise Bocagrande District.
They say that the district was built to bring in the tourists,
so that the government can make more monies to fix the ghettos.
I was and am so saddened to see people, especially children, in poverty.
I have seen it all over the world and I wish I could do more.
I would give up everything if I had to to help another child.
Me and my guide Ana were talking about that on the way to the home.
I mentioned about the politics in the states;
how Romney and Obama during the last campaign wasted billions of dollars;
which could have been used to fix infrastructure, education, and help the poverty stricken.
It was great to finally see Jackieth! I talked to her in Espaniel and English...

After the home visit we went up to the Castle and the Fort.
Then we went down to the playa (beach) to take photos.
We then went to the Naval Museum; where Jackie and I toured it on our own.
I could not believe that Children International let us tour on our own.
But as her madre said I am like her father.
After the tour we went back to the plaza where Children International was waiting for us.

We, my sponsored child and I, communicated well for the most part while on the tour.
The only thing I did not really understand her trying to ask me was what uniform I wore.
I did point out the cracker jacks and the beige officer uniform.
And a nice girl in the museum helped me translate.
I did my "Donald Duck" sneeze and made Jackie laugh.

We then went to get something to eat at the mall.
Jackie like most children, in the Americanized influence of the world, wanted McDonald's. 
The McDonald's here is different than America, however, it is more organic.
And the tomatoes, lettuce, and onions are locally grown.
The onions were diced real onions and not the dehydrated junk they use in America.
It was actually the best Big Mac I ever had!

After the late lunch we went back to the ghetto to take Jackie and her madre home.
I felt bad, because they went back to a shack and I went to a nice hotel with a pool.
At 0500PM I was back at the hotel and I reflected on the day...

Wednesday 16 July 2014:

Today I slept in until 1030. Then I went and got a breakfast bar which is open until noon.
I swam until the afternoon, when the storm clouds came.
It started to storm and I went up to my room on the 4th floor, room 429.
I fell asleep while it rained. The cool wind from my open window felt good.
I slept until 0600PM. I then got up and went to pay my hotel bill to pay it early.
I did not know that they charge $2 a minute for phone calls,
and I was calling my wife everyday.
That added up quickly. And it turned out to be a big hassle to get it paid.
I then left the hotel, watched the nightly parade for the "Virgin of Mount Carmel",
and went and got me the local favorite called the Arepas pues;
it is like a taco, but made out of a bread instead of a shell.
It was delicisio!

  I then went to the hotel bar and got a couple of drinks and chatted with a fellow
American Navy Man I met. He is still on active duty, but vacationed on his own.


After the sun went down I went for another nightly swim.
I went back to the sauna and had a lemon grass tea.
At 10PM I was back in my room watching sitcoms and chilling.

Thursday 17 July 2014:

This morning I got up at 0800AM and went to the playa (beach) until noon.

I then went back to the hotel to shower and get the sand off of me.
I then changed out and walked and got a lunch at a place called,
Kit Kof Burguers. 

I had the Barcelona Burger; delicisio!

I then walked back to the hotel; where I finally got my debt paid,
and my camera fell and broke. Bad luck for me always!
I talked to the front desk,
who let me borrow a laptop to make sure my photos were still on my sun disk.
I got on my Facebook at the computer room and chatted with mi esposa.

At 1900 I walked over to the beach house and tried the Playa Platter;
a whole spicy blackened fish, red beans, and rice.

The rest of the night I stayed around at the hotel.
I packed my bag and prepared to leave.
I am ready to get out of here.

Friday 18 July 2014:

Today I left Cartagena Colombia!
I got up at 0900AM, had some pancakes with jam to eat from room service. 
By 1030AM I was checked out.
Getting the bag checked and going to customs at the airport actually went fast.
I was sitting in my terminal waiting to board my plane at 11AM.
I sat there for 2 hours; bored out of my mind.
At 0100PM I boarded another SPIRIT plane, flight 946 to Fort Lauderdale Florida.
We departed on time at 0137PM.
I arrived at Fort Lauderdale Florida at 0537PM.
Customs here with the TSA was not as fast as the customs in Cartagena Colombia.
In fact the customs officer told me that the disability line is only for wheel chairs.
It took me nearly three (3) hours to get through customs, the bag check, and the pat down.
I was in pain and shaking the entire time.
My blood sugar was low and nearly fainted. 

My next flight was supposed to leave at 0820PM,
but thankfully it was delayed.
I called my wife to tell her and she told me that my parents were picking me up.
She contacted them.
At 0940PM I (we) boarded the plane, flight 464 to Chicago Illinois.
It was nearly midnight when we (I) arrived in Chi-Town.
I walked straight off the plane with my yellow backpack;
straight to the curbside pick up were I saw mi padre and madre.
I arrived home at just before 0300AM Saturday 19 July 2014.

Good bye Cartagena! Te Amo!

Mi Amor Cartagena!